Regional

Before 2016 ends, it could become one of the wettest years on record, and not because of the copious amounts of rain that have fallen this summer, but for the number of cities and counties that are voting in favor of alcohol.

The American Red Cross urges blood donors to give in the final weeks of summer to help overcome a critical summer blood shortage.

The summer months are among the most challenging times of years to collect enough blood and platelet donations to meet patient needs. Many regular donors delay giving while they take vacation and participate in summer activities. The need for blood doesn’t take a summer break though.

The original vision for buying a hog farm in Defoe involved having a place to teach his son the value of hard work, said the owner and founder of Patriot Brands. That changed after Damien Prather researched the old Low Dutch barn that came with the property.

The idea to create Six-Mile Creek Distillery — a $5 million investment in an 8,000-square-foot facility that will employ 15 when it opens in 2017 —sprang from what Prather learned about the early Kentucky settlers.

Department of Corrections Commissioner Rodney Ballard today announced the promotion of Steve Faulkner to Director of the Corrections Training Division.

His promotion was effective July 1.

“Steve Faulkner has demonstrated the skills necessary to be a valuable addition to our leadership team,” said Ballard. “I am pleased to have the opportunity to promote a true team player who will work to enhance our mission in the Corrections Training Division. His experience and knowledge will serve him well as he assumes his new role.”

Department of Corrections Commissioner Rodney Ballard today announced the promotion of Steve Faulkner to Director of the Corrections Training Division.

His promotion was effective July 1.

“Steve Faulkner has demonstrated the skills necessary to be a valuable addition to our leadership team,” said Ballard. “I am pleased to have the opportunity to promote a true team player who will work to enhance our mission in the Corrections Training Division. His experience and knowledge will serve him well as he assumes his new role.”

FRANKFORT, Ky. – After all the revenue and savings from budget cuts had been counted, and all unbudgeted expenses were paid, Kentucky’s General Fund produced a surplus of $52.7 million for the fiscal year that ended June 30.

But the Bevin administration’s budget director and the chairman of the House budget committee disagreed Monday on how this surplus should be split between two state government reserve funds.

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Thomas Elliott is asking Franklin Circuit Court to declare that he remains chairman of the Kentucky Retirement Systems Board of Trustees and that Gov. Matt Bevin’s order to remove Elliott from the Board is unconstitution¬al and void.

In a lawsuit Friday, Elliott also asks the court to order the Bevin administration to not interfere with Elliott’s continuing “service as a trustee, member and chair of the Board.”

FRANKFORT - Gov. Matt Bevin defended on Tuesday his decision to abolish and replace the University of Louisville Board of Trustees, saying he has “absolute authority” to disband any state board and commission.

The Republican governor also dismissed any concern about possible legal action that Attorney General Andy Beshear might bring trying to stop the changes at U of L, saying Beshear has been “busy” filing frivolous lawsuits against him in recent weeks.

Ohio and Kentucky stand to get an estimated $63 million in federal money for heroin and opioid addiction treatment if President Barack Obama gets his way.

Both states rank in the top five in the nation for drug poisoning deaths per 100,000 population.

Kentucky was fourth in 2014, with 24.7 drug poisoning deaths per 100,000 population. Ohio was right behind, ranking fifth with 24.6, the White House noted in its announcement of the treatment funding proposal on Tuesday.